Counselling - Lesley A Millane BA MA UKCP Reg

Initial Assessment

Prior to any commencement of counselling, an initial assessment interview with the client is essential. This will last up to one hour and will:

Enable the client to get a feel for what counselling involves and how it may help them. It will also enable the client to ask any questions or raise any concerns they may have before making such a commitment.

Provide a time to discuss the practicalities of counselling by looking at times, cancellations, fees, confidentiality and the general rules that both client and counsellor must abide by.

Enable the counsellor to make an assessment of the client's presenting problems and difficulties and decide with the client the goals of counselling and areas to be worked on in future sessions.

Ascertain the suitability of any client for either long-term or short-term counselling. People suffering with more serious mental health problems such as eating disorders or severe depression are more suitable for long-term counselling.

More importantly, this initial session is designed for you to make an assessment of the counsellor and to decide if you can work with them.

Attending an initial assessment does not mean that you are obliged to continue on to counselling sessions.

If you feel at all uncomfortable about the counsellor then it may be worth looking around until you have found a counsellor you are genuinely happy with.